Australian federal election 2016: Turnbull to form government, Shorten predicts another poll
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Malcolm Turnbull is certain to form government, but it will be days before it is clear if the Prime Minister will have to rely on the crossbench to prop up the Coalition.
After receiving the support of Queensland independent Bob Katter on Thursday, Mr Turnbull received the backing of a second crossbench MP, Victorian independent Cathy McGowan, to give supply and confidence on Friday while a third independent, Tasmanian Andrew Wilkie, made a similar pledge.
Those pledges effectively ensured Mr Turnbull should be able to, at the very least, claim 76 seats and minority government and what is now at issue is whether the Coalition can win 76 seats and form a majority government.
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Opposition leader Bill Shorten - who received the unanimous backing of the Labor caucus on Friday to remain leader - predicted Australians would head back to the polls by the end of the year, while admitting the Coalition was set to scrape home.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/australian-federal-election-2016-turnbull-to-form-government-shorten-predicts-another-poll-by-years-end-20160708-gq1qb5.html
